Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed the many vignettes where Poirot is outwitted by the Big Four, even while discovering their identities. I‘m alway game for deception in the form of espionage and Hastings was back to narrate the case, thus adding to my enjoyment. But something was missing from this case, mon ami. It‘s a mystery to me how Christie just settled for this ending.

This didn‘t feel like a Poirot murder mystery at all, more like a James Bond against the world. It can be felt that some short stories were thrown in together with some linking devices to get a new full-length novel. I think I would have preferred the short stories instead.

„it has always seemed to me extraordinary that a woman should go so far in the scientific world. I should have thought a purely masculine brain was needed for such work.“ - Sometimes I do not like Hastings at all. 😡

Meh. One of my least favorite of Christie‘s works so far.
Hastings was especially annoying in these stories.
I mostly listened to the audio while knitting Estella, my emotional support chicken, seen here with the paperback, so it was worth it.
I got laid off last month & am having a hard time finding a new job. Thankfully I have books & hobbies to keep me from falling too far into depression. #christiescapers #agathachristieclubr3 #audioknitting

#weeklyfavorites
@Read4life 🧡💜💛

I only read one book last week, and it was NOT a favorite ... so what's a gal to do? 😂🤷‍♀️😂

#ChristiesCapers @Librarybelle

I would not recommend this book as a first one to read of Christie's; it is clearly not her best. The novel's origin as a short story collection is glaringly obvious. The narrative feels fragmented, jumping from one escapade to the next without the seamless plot construction Christie is renowned for. Also, there is no central puzzle for the reader to solve. The clues are not laid out for the armchair detective; ⬇️

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle #AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • In Agatha Christie's The Big Four (1927), Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings investigate a shadowy international crime syndicate known as the Big Four. ⬇️

It‘s time for our #ChristiesCapers discussion! I have five questions posted as spoilers; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.

Next month is another Poirot novel; this time, we‘re traveling on the Blue Train! Official post tomorrow! #AgathaChristieClubR3

Here‘s my review for this book I just finished reading for the #christiescapers buddy review and I finished just in time for the discussion too.

#christiescapers

I started this book last night for the #christiescapers buddy read. So far, it‘s okay but I‘m not liking it. It feels different from other Poirot books. I feel like I don‘t understand what‘s going on in this book but I‘ll keep going with this book. If I can‘t get into this book, I‘ll probably DNF it but I hope I don‘t have to DNF because I like Agatha Christie.

“I have met people who enjoy a channel crossing: men who can sit calmly in their deck-chairs and, on arrival, wait until the boat is moored, then gather their belongings together without fuss and disembark.“

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

I try to be this person when traveling because I hate the stress of everyone jamming the exits on planes, trains, and ships. I wait until the end unless a short transfer forces me to be one of the crazies.

I‘m reading along with #ChristiesCapers and this is our book for August and my #BookSpin for the month. If not for those two things, I don‘t think I‘d finish this. Maybe it‘s bc it came right after Roger Ackroyd but this was not fun. It was repetitive and often over the top. I just thought it would never end. Good thing Agatha Christie had quite a few more books to make up for this one!

We‘re a little less than 1.5 weeks away from our next #ChristiesCapers discussion!

This will be the third time reading this one for me, and I fully admit it‘s not a favorite of mine. I‘ve seen posts already that others may agree; the discussion will be interesting!

See you August 31st! #AgathaChristieClubR3

“Pardon, my friend, but it is possible that you read ‘The Future of the Argentine,‘ ‘Mirror of Society,‘ ‘Cattle Breeding,‘ ‘The Clue of Crimson,‘ and ‘Sport in the Rockies‘ at one and the same time?"

I laughed, and admitted that ‘The Clue of Crimson‘ was at present engaging my sole attention. Poirot shook his head sadly.

"But replace then the others on the bookshelf!"

——

Poirot would be aghast at the stacks of books on my nightstand. ?

meh. A disappointment after the wonders of Roger Ackroyd.
#ChristieCapers
@Librarybelle

#Fridaynightreadinghour
Chips & sparkling wine for me tonight! Anyone please join in!

I guess it would be cheating to use this cover for an #ISpy square. 😂

Christie's spy plots and her Poirot characters really don't mix well. It's melodramatic and silly and Poirot pokes fun at that while simultaneously being melodramatic and silly himself. I was stunned this followed “Roger Ackroyd“ but it turns out she wrote the stories individually and then came up with the framing device later. #ChristieCapers

“ I forbore to pander to his conceit by asking the obvious question.”(68).
This comment by Captain Hastings made me laugh! Obviously Poirot thought the Big 4 brains put together were not as intelligent as his brain! #littlegraycells #AgathaChristieClubR3

Enjoying this book featuring Hercule Poirot & his little gray cells.#ChristieCapers #AgathaChristieClubR3 #porchlife

Starting today. #AgathaChristieClubR3 #ChristieCapers
Between the smoke/haze & allergies - high, suggesting that “sensitive groups” stay inside, that is where I will be today.

#ReadYourEbook @CBee

August!

Repost for @Librarybelle

Great discussion yesterday for # ChristiesCapers ! Feel free to keep contributing.

Next month, we have another Poirot novel and go on the quest for The Big Four. Discussion on August 31st.

All are welcome to join us! Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list. #AgathaChristieClubR3

Original post - https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2887001

Great discussion yesterday for # ChristiesCapers ! Feel free to keep contributing.

Next month, we have another Poirot novel and go on the quest for The Big Four. Discussion on August 31st.

All are welcome to join us! Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list. #AgathaChristieClubR3

I didn't like this at all.

Another great installment in the Poirot series. This was one of my favorites I think, it kind of gave me James Bond/Sherlock vibes with a dash of supervillain evil global plotting.

Hastings returns from South America to see his old friend but arrives to find Poirot in the midst of packing. Poirot is about to leave for overseas on a case, but plans change when they both become embroiled in the latest scheme masterminded by a group called 'The Big Four'.

This book is a series of short stories arranged into a narrative which revolves around 'The Big Four'. (continued)

This one was…interesting. I liked it okay but definitely another that is not a favorite.

Good old chauvinistic Agatha Christie 😂

This one is a bit confusing.. it‘s not one murder but many all connected to the 4..

Up next in my reading challenge #agathachristie#readingchallenge#murdermystery#queenofmystery

Books 17 and 18 of the year.

What a strange book this is. But then, so far I've found all of Christie's "international intrigue" plot lines strange. I do enjoy the relationship between Hastings and Poirot, but this one is hindered by an anti-Asian bias that, while probably true to the time and location, is still jarring and unpleasant to read, especially the accent/pidgin Christie has her Chinese characters speak. Or I guess maybe one could argue that it's Hastings's bias?

Misty morning audiowalk. After an hour listening to the adventures of Poirot and Hastings, I came home noting clues. "You must have made the coffee within the past 30 minutes because your mug isn't in the sink. Ah, yes! Your mug is by your side and the coffee is still hot! And someone had eggs for breakfast. An omelet, made with onions."

I commend my family for taking my dorkiness in stride.

This was not a Poirot novel, this is a collection of short stories. Of Poirot going after the Bug Four of the world‘s conspiracy network. Interesting group of individuals, granted the diversity there. But it lacked greatly in a solid through plot. Let alone the horrendous Asian stereotypes. Poirot was more all over the place than usual, too, being Obsessed with taking the group down. Not good one if you have to force yourself to read #whodunit

Our next source of information was the famous Madame Olivier. I was quite excited as we mounted the steps of her villa at Passy. It has always seemed to me extraordinary that a woman should go so far in the scientific world. I should have thought a purely masculine brain was needed for such work. - Hastings
There‘s so much old time stereotypes in plain sight thrown throughout. So eye pain wrenching. Like excuse YOU. #whodunit

Always need a cup of tea with an Agatha Christie novel. (Also with a spoonful of honey) so far this seems like an all over the place mystery with a super villain group conducting murder around England. Don‘t understand the link Poirot has to the group though. Nice to have Hastings as company to bounce ideas off. #whodunit

Just finished my first #24in48 book. I can‘t say I liked this Poirot mystery. It felt exceedingly disjointed, and I wasn‘t surprised to learn that it started as short stories that were combined into a novel. Despite being action-packed, the plot was far-fetched even for a Christie—a powerful, international cabal called The Big Four orchestrating murders across the English countryside—and it featured a lot of gross, old-timey racial stereotyping.

Another good one from Agatha Christie. I liked this one because of the relationship of Hastings and Poirot. It brought more humour into the novel, which I really enjoyed.

There were some good little misteries in the middle, but I still don't like Hastings very much and I found the overarching narrative very unconvicing, as well as Number Four's disguise habilities.

This was another fun installation of Poirot, but it's the first which really stretches the imagination - an evil supervillain group who run the world is way outside of the expected Agatha Christie cozy mystery... Enjoyable nonetheless, but not my favourite so far. 3.5⭐

Well, hello again, Hastings! Somehow, this felt more like a series of connected short stories than a novel. I liked how it seems to span over quite a long period of time and in some places, read more like a thriller than a mystery.

3. Poirot joins Christie's espionage thrillers with this book. Did you find him to be a good fit? How did this compare to the other thrillers we've read for you?

#agathachristieclubR2

2. This book takes a different form than we've seen so far in Christie's writing, in that they are linked short stories. Did you enjoy this style?

#agathachristieclubR2